Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

WRIGLEY (Jun 05/98) - Wrigley's Mike Watt is issuing a call to reform for his fellow Northerners -- the Reform Party that is.

Fresh from a respectable showing in last year's federal election -- Watt placed third overall with 1,964 votes in the Western Arctic, "Ahead of the PCs," he points out -- Watt says Western Arctic Reformers are already gearing up for the next election.

"We're working to get our organization up to snuff," the 42-year-old small business owner says.

"We need volunteers and organizers up here more than ever."

"I think it is important for the Leader of the Opposition (Reform Party Leader Preston Manning) to come up here. We have land claims, division, the new western constitution."

"I'm writing letters right now. We have unique situations up here."

Watt is frank when asked about the often negative impression many aboriginal people -- fairly or unfairly -- appear to have developed over the party he left the Progressive Conservatives for.

"Our aboriginal policy up here is that we'd like to settle the land claims and (honor) treaty rights," he says. "But, we don't see self-government as a nation type thing... Perhaps municipal government is not the right phrase but (Reform policy supports) that sort of thing."

As for Canada's Tories, Watt says he gave up on the once proud party during former prime minister Brian Mulroney's nine years in office.

"I didn't like the direction that Mulroney took the party," he says.

"They lost their roots and chose political correctness instead."

With Reform, Watt says he likes the party's stand on accountability for MPs, more free votes in the House of Commons and their firm support for the family.

Locally, Watt sees Yellowknife and Hay River as excellent areas of possible growth for his party.

And, he says that anyone interested in politics should consider Reform.

"We're at the ground level," he says. "We're in the basement and the elevator is going up. The Reform Party is very open to grassroots involvement."

He said a public meeting will be held in the coming months to help better organize Reformers in this part of the North.

Anyone seeking further information can reach Watt in Wrigley.